My Marathon Journey: A Progress Update on the Road to London 2025
Hi, I’m John Hodgkiss, a full time physiotherapist working at Nicky Snazell’s Physiotherapy and Wellness Clinic. I specialise in running gait analysis and I have had the privilege to have helped many runners improve, from fellow running enthusiasts and friends right up to elite athletes.
Running for Roy Castles Lung Cancer Foundation
As many of you know, I’ve embarked on a thrilling journey to train for my first ‘live’ marathon, the 2025 London marathon, taking place on April 27th. Sadly, both my own family and my wife’s family have lost loved ones to cancer and I wanted to help in a way that I can, so committing to run the London Marathon was an obvious choice. Roy Castles Lung Cancer Foundation is a leading cancer charity and my aim is to raise £2,300 to help them.
Running a marathon successfully is heavily dependent on proper preparation and I wanted to take a moment to share my progress, challenges, and what I’ve learned so far. Whether you’re a seasoned runner or just curious about this incredible experience, I hope my updates will inspire you to lace up your trainers and hit the pavement (or trail)!
Week-by-Week Breakdown.
Start date: 6th January 2025
Week 1-4:
The Foundation
The first few weeks of training
focused on building a solid foundation. My routine consisted of shorter, mostly conversational paced runs, slowly increasing my mileage each week. I incorporated a few harder runs and a couple of short strength workouts to enhance my overall fitness. I prefer to run on Cannock Chase but as London is a road race I started building in more miles on the pavements to start getting my body used to this. The biggest takeaway?
Consistency is key! Setting a schedule and sticking to it makes all the difference.
Week 5-8:
Building As I entered the next phase of training, I began to feel more comfortable with longer distances. I introduced a few more speed/ intervals during my mid-week runs to increase my pace. I also participated in a couple of local races, including the Rugeley 10 miler and Warwick half marathon, which were a great way to build my confidence and test my endurance. I raced wearing a running belt to practice carrying my own water and nutrition. My long runs on weekends gradually increased, peaking at 18.5 miles by the end of week 8. The feeling of completing those longer distances was invigorating and reassuring. On reflection, getting some races in early was a great way to connect with people, and they helped with setting realistic pace goals for the marathon.
Facing Challenges
It wasn’t all smooth sailing, though. During the Warwick Half I experienced some tightness in my left IT band and towards the end of the race I had some pain in my left knee whilst running a long downhill section, that made me fear that I was overtraining. After consulting with my colleagues, we figured out my glutes were simply getting tight and a bit of targeted massage and stretching seems to have cleared things up nicely.
Having made mistakes in the past I know the importance of listening to my body and adjusting my training accordingly, so I took it easier than planned for a few days following the race. Recovery became a priority, and I embraced the use of the foam roller, stretching, and taking time out to have proper rest days to allow my body to heal.
Nutrition and Hydration
From my experience over many years of running, I have realised how crucial nutrition and hydration are and I have certainly noticed the differences with marathon prep. I focus on a balanced diet rich in carbohydrates, proteins, and healthy fats.
I also find a protein rich post workout recovery shake helps speed up the repair, so I always take some calories on board straight after a run, within 30 minutes of finishing.
Meal prepping became a game-changer for maintaining my energy levels and ensuring I had the right fuel for long runs. I am also experimenting with different gels and hydration strategies during runs to discover what works best for my body. So far, I like a mix of SIS electrolyte and Maurten gels and salt sticks for extra electrolytes. Without this I would be prone to cramps and risk eventually hitting the wall!
Mental Preparation
Beyond the physical aspects,
I’ve found that mental preparation is equally vital. I started incorporating mindfulness techniques such as visualization and positive affirmations into my routine. During tough runs, I remind myself why I began this journey and that every mile brings me closer to the finish line.
Community Support
One of the most rewarding aspects of this training journey has been the community aspect. I’ve connected with fellow runners through local clubs and social media, receiving tips, encouragement, and even running partners for long runs. The camaraderie has been uplifting, reminding me that I’m not alone in this endeavour.
Upcoming Challenges
As I move into the final stretch of my training, I have a few key races and milestones ahead. My goal is to complete a 20-mile long run soon, and I’m excited (and slightly anxious) about it! I have to continue to build my weekly mileage up over the next few weeks, peaking around 65 miles, before starting to taper back to allow some recovery in the final weeks leading up to race day. I have my eyes set on a few events in the coming months, before and after London, and I can’t wait to cross that finish line and experience the buzz of the crowds lining the city streets.
Final Thoughts Training for a marathon is a rollercoaster ride of physical and emotional ups and downs.
With every mile, I learn a little more about resilience, determination, and celebrating small victories. With every marathoner I see in the clinic I gain another insight. I’m grateful for the support I’ve received so far and can’t wait to share the final outcome of this journey with all of you.
Thank you for following along on my marathon training progress! If you have any tips, advice, or stories of your own, I would love to hear them. Please email me at
johnh@painreliefclinic.co.uk
Here’s to the road ahead! Happy Running!
If you would like to help me reach my goal of raising £2,300 towards Roy Castles lung cancer charity, here is my link: